Referring to fixing the minimum salary of journalists, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, I am not against the Wage Board, but before that we have to fix the basic minimum payment. It is present in most countries of the world. There is also for the garment workers of our country. There is for shipping workers. Journalists must also do so that it cannot be understated. And they (journalists) should be given safety equipment.
He said these things at the discussion meeting titled 'How do we want media' organized by Bangladesh Free Press Initiative at Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of National Press Club on Friday (December 27) evening.
Shafiqul Alam said, our journalists are paid very little. It is inhuman living. It cannot be imagined. This is where our union leaders have failed year after year. We are giving 5000 taka, 10000 taka to our boy who will come to journalism. It (journalism) is like an addiction. He wants to see his name in print, to tell a story. This is due to addiction. And because of this arrival, the owners are throwing him into the trap. The murder of Hasina is responsible for the fact that Priyo died or Hasan Mehdi died, and to some extent the blame belongs to the owners. Are we journalists (owners) giving us safety equipment? Are we getting a helmet, are we getting a bulletproof vest? This is the basic minimum thing. Abroad (outside the country) does not allow journalism without them.
Commenting that everyone should raise their voice to determine the minimum wage, the press secretary said, “Every press club, reporter's unit should raise this voice simultaneously that whoever (media owner) comes to do journalism in our paid place, whether it is an underground newspaper or a website, it is a good thing for him.” A basic minimum payment of Rs. And if you give below that, then don't come to do journalism. Journalism costs you money. You came and handed over a press card or an ID card and said – do journalism so that this does not happen. This is very evident in rural areas. Many taka owners may or may not be paying two thousand taka to their district representatives. Saying with the card – you eat. Such people should be exposed.
He said, you are sure, there will be new anti-fascist journalism in new Bangladesh. So that another fascism is not created in Bangladesh. Hasina is a monster – gone, we all have to take an oath that another monster will not be created.
Regarding the journalists who were killed in the movement, he further said, “We have not seen the kind of journalism done by our journalists in the last July-August in the history of Bangladesh. I would say, this is a proud moment for journalists in the history of Bangladesh. And those who died, including journalists, I won't say actually died… We heard the stories of those who were 'murdered'. Not since 1971, since 1972 have so many journalists died in one event. Seven journalists died, became martyrs. I think it should be written in golden letters in every press club, association of reporters.
Managing Secretary of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust M Abdullah said that the role of journalists in the movement cannot be overstated. They are not famous journalists, but they have gone ahead and worked. We are not talking about those who have worked, but those who have died. 61 journalists have been martyred in the last 15 years. Among them is Sagar-Rooney, who ended up with Hasan Mehdi, via Priyad.
Samsi Ara Zaman, the mother of martyred journalist Tahir Zaman Priya, recalled her son, said, “Once upon a time, we did not take cinematography or photography as a career. Because we did not understand about this. But I am proud of my son's work today.
He said, Priya got married at a young age. I said, you are wrong. Even if it is good now, it will not be good if there is shortage. He then took a job at the online newspaper The Report. His salary was 14 thousand rupees. How does a man with his family live in the city of Dhaka for 14 thousand taka! According to the amount of money they receive, their salary is nothing. I think the salaries of journalists should be increased. The facilities of news offices should be increased. Then employees can perform better. They need to be fed nutritious food. Because they walk around all day. Their salary, what will they eat, or run the family?
Shaheed Priya's mother said, I think the journalists or the children who were killed like my son, should not have been killed. And the government is not able to work in these four months. Because the media that exists now has the previous people in mind. I want reform of media.
Convenor of Bangladesh Free Press Initiative Yasir Arafat chaired and co-convenor Silmi Sadia was also present at the time, father of martyred journalist Shakil Hossain Md. Belayet Hossain, son of martyred journalist Pradeep Kumar Bhowmik Sujan Kumar Bhowmik, father of martyred journalist Hasan Mehdi Mosharef Hossain Howladar and others.
